The Nghinh Ong Festival, also known as the Guan Kung Greeting Celebration, will kick off in Phan thiet city of southern Binh Thuan province on August 19. The three-day festival will commemorate a Chinese general and warrior-saint honoured by the Hoa (Chinese Vietnamese) community.

Covering an area of 2,300m2, Phuoc Hai Pagoda, or Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) Pagoda in the past, in District 1, Ho chi minh city was built around the turn of the 20th century on the foundation of the old Minh Su Pagoda.

Phong Nha- Ke Bang Cavern in Quang Binh Province and Fansipan Mountain Peak in Lao cai Province have been added to a list of 77 candidate sites to be voted on as world natural wonders again. Phong Nha – Ke Bang were taken off the voting list about four months ago.

Two agreements on tertiary education cooperation between Vietnamese and Swiss universities were signed in Hanoi on August 5 in the presence of visiting Swiss President Pascal Couchepin and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Wining over 36 contestants, Phan Thi Ngoc Diem was crowned 2008 Miss Vietnam Tourism on the final night of a beauty pageant, which took place at Phan Dinh Phung Competition House in Ho chi minh city on August 2.